Watchcase



Se pt. 4, 1934. C KELLER 1,972,522

WATGHCASE Filed Jan. 25, 1932 Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFFCE Application January 25,

2 Claims.

The invention relates to Watch cases, and has for its object to provide means whereby a coin medal may be mounted on the case cover of a closed watch, or on the crystal of an open faced watch.

A further object is to provide a watch crystal with a depression for the reception of a coin or medal and a retaining ring within the depression and cooperating with the coin and a channel within the depression for holding the coin in position.

A further object is to so shape the retaining ring whereby upon expansion and contraction of the coin and the crystal at different degrees of expansion, the retaining ring will move slightly axially thereby preventing damage to the crystal. Another object is to position the coin where the watch hands may be observed through the crystal around the coin.

A further object is to provide the watch cover with an upstanding annular flange for the reception of tthe coin and which flange is bent to overlie and hold the coin.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and ar rangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the watch and crystal showing the coin therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the watch crystal.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a split retaining ring.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form wherein a coin is held by an annular member on the watch cover.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the watch cover shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the watch cover before the annular flange is bent over the coin.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a conventional form of ring, on the watch case 2 and disposed within the ring 1 is a crystal 3, through which a dial 4 of the watch may be observed, and the ends of the hands 5, which cooperate with indicia on the dial. The crystal 3 is provided with an opening 6 therethrough having a channel 7, in which is received a coin or medal 8, and extending upwardly from the crystal is an integral annular flange 9 having a channel 10 in the inner face thereof for the reception of a split expansible retaining ring 11.

Channel 10 is semi-circular shaped in vertical transverse cross section and the ring 11 is round in cross section, therefore it will be seen that when there is a different coefficient of expansion 1932, Serial No. 588,781

of the coin 8 and glass of the crystal 3, said ring will slightly contract, thereby preventing breaking of the crystal upon temperature changes. To allow the contraction of the split ring 11, the split 12 therein extends across the ring in the position shown in Figure 2 so as to form overlapping ends, overlapping in a vertical plane. It will be seen that if the split 12 of the ring was in a horizontal position, the overlapped ends would jam against each other and in the channel 10 and shatter the crystal.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, in this form, the coin 8 is held on the watch case cover 13 by means of an annular flange 14, the upper edge of which is bent over to form a flange 15 overlying the coin from the position shown in Figure 6; said flange 14 being preferably formed integral with the cover, and from the same metal, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture to a minimum and providing a positive rigid means for mounting the coin on the cover of a closed face watch or on the back cover of an open face watch.

From the above it will be seen that means is provided for mounting a coin or medal on a watch thereby providing a convenient way of displaying the coin or medal and at the same time adding to the artistic effect of the watch. It will also be seen that the mounting can be provided on a watch crystal or watch case, and the same can be cheaply manufactured and sold, and applied without varying the construction of the watch.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is:

l. The combination with a glass watch crystal, of a coin mount therein, said mount comprising a chamber in the crystal in which the coin is disposed, an outwardly extending annular flange surrounding said chamber and formed integral with the crystal, a split ring engaging the coin and in an annular channel in the inner periphery of the crystal flange, said split ring being diagonally split and formed from metal thereby allowing contraction and expansion of the ring incident to the different expansive and contractive qualities of the glass crystal and the ring.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ring is round in cross section and the channel in which the ring is disposed is semi-circular in cross section, thereby in combination with the diagonal split of the ring allowing contraction of the ring and outward movement thereof upon transverse expansion of the coin under temperature changes.

JOHN C. KELLER. 

